With 118 tracks spread over four jam-packed CDs, the budget-priced Ham Hocks and Cornbread is yet another inexpensive but worthwhile compilation from the reissue label JSP. Subtitled "The pounding, pulsating roots of rock & roll," this set consists primarily of classic jump blues sides of the '40s and early '50s. Artists range from famous folk like Johnny Otis (represented by the rollicking big-band instrumental "Barrelhouse Stomp") and Memphis stalwart Rufus Thomas (performing "Gonna Bring My Baby Back" under the pseudonym Mr. Swing) to a wide variety of names known only to completists. Songs range from Duke Ellington sideman Johnny Hodges' suave "Castle Rock" to James Von Streeter's greasy blues honker "Chitlins," complete with corny shouted interjections from the band. Remastering, as always with JSP releases, is a bit spotty, with several tracks clearly taken from vinyl, but any concerns are limited by the rarity of these songs, along with the wallet-pleasing price. For the casual fan or interested newcomer, Ham Hocks and Cornbread is tough to beat.
Various Artists
Ham Hocks and Cornbread
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AllMusic Review by Stewart Mason
Track Listing - Disc 1
| Sample | Title/Composer | Performer | Time | Stream | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Little Willie Littlefield | 03:00 | Amazon | |||
| 2 |
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Johnny Otis | 02:46 | Amazon | |||
| 3 |
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Rabon Tarrant | 03:00 | Amazon | |||
| 4 |
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Goree Carter | 02:24 | Amazon | |||
| 5 |
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Big Bob Dougherty | 02:18 | Amazon | |||
| 6 |
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Gatemouth Moore | 02:50 | Amazon | |||
| 7 |
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Jimmy Smith | 02:37 | Amazon | |||
| 8 |
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Andrew Tibbs | 02:32 | Amazon | |||
| 9 |
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David Van Dyke | 02:42 | Amazon | |||
| 10 |
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Rosco Gordon | 02:36 | Amazon | |||
| 11 |
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Walter Brown | 03:07 | Amazon | |||
| 12 |
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Billie McAllister | 02:46 | Amazon | |||
| 13 |
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Frank Culley | 02:59 | Amazon | |||
| 14 |
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Jack Cooley | 02:21 | Amazon | |||
| 15 |
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Sherman Williams | 02:44 | Amazon | |||
| 16 |
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Clifford Blivens | 02:41 | Amazon | |||
| 17 |
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Joe Lutcher | 02:27 | Amazon | |||
| 18 |
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Wynonie Harris | 02:43 | Amazon | |||
| 19 |
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Wild Bill Moore | 02:54 | Amazon | |||
| 20 |
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Marvin Phillips | 02:11 | Amazon | |||
| 21 |
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Jimmy McCracklin | 02:43 | Amazon | |||
| 22 |
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Bull Moose Jackson | 02:44 | Amazon | |||
| 23 |
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Big Jay McNeely | 02:35 | Amazon | |||
| 24 |
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Big Jim Wynn | 02:09 | Amazon | |||
| 25 |
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Tommy Brown | 02:56 | Amazon | |||
| 26 |
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Red Prysock | 02:30 | Amazon | |||
| 27 |
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Floyd Dixon | 02:47 | Amazon | |||
| 28 |
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Joe Morris | 02:50 | Amazon | |||
| 29 |
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Carlton Campbell | 02:35 | Amazon |
Track Listing - Disc 2
| Sample | Title/Composer | Performer | Time | Stream | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Tiny Bradshaw | 02:44 | Amazon | |||
| 2 |
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Sonny Thompson | 02:37 | Amazon | |||
| 3 |
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Jackson Brothers | 02:18 | Amazon | |||
| 4 |
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Wild Bill Moore | 02:43 | Amazon | |||
| 5 |
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Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams | 03:13 | Amazon | |||
| 6 |
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Harold Tinsley | 02:54 | Amazon | |||
| 7 | Jimmy Witherspoon | 02:44 | Amazon | ||||
| 8 |
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Rene Hall Sextette | 03:01 | Amazon | |||
| 9 |
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T.J. Fowler | 02:32 | Amazon | |||
| 10 |
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Red Prysock | 03:11 | Amazon | |||
| 11 |
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Carl Davis | 02:29 | Amazon | |||
| 12 |
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Jimmy Nelson | 02:22 | Amazon | |||
| 13 |
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Cecil Payne | 02:52 | Amazon | |||
| 14 |
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Eddie Mack | 02:26 | Amazon | |||
| 15 |
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Pinocchio James | 02:28 | Amazon | |||
| 16 |
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Joe Dyson Orchestra | 02:42 | Amazon | |||
| 17 |
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Freddie Mitchell | 02:42 | Amazon | |||
| 18 |
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Roy Brown | 02:27 | Amazon | |||
| 19 |
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Cousin Joe | 02:39 | Amazon | |||
| 20 |
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Kid Tanner | 02:44 | Amazon | |||
| 21 |
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Eddie Chamblee | 03:17 | Amazon | |||
| 22 |
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Arbee Stidham | 02:40 | Amazon | |||
| 23 |
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Little Eddie | 02:20 | Amazon | |||
| 24 |
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Ike Carpenter & His Orchestra | 02:14 | Amazon | |||
| 25 |
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Piney Brown | 02:43 | Amazon | |||
| 26 |
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Fats Noel | 02:27 | Amazon | |||
| 27 |
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Jimmy Crawford / Frank Motley | 02:49 | Amazon | |||
| 28 |
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Buddy Banks | 02:40 | Amazon | |||
| 29 |
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L.C. Williams | 03:00 | Amazon |
Track Listing - Disc 3
| Sample | Title/Composer | Performer | Time | Stream | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Hal Singer | 02:58 | Amazon | |||
| 2 |
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Rufus Thomas | 02:27 | Amazon | |||
| 3 |
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Roy Hawkins | 02:35 | Amazon | |||
| 4 |
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H-Bomb Ferguson | 02:27 | Amazon | |||
| 5 |
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Dickie G. Davis | 02:39 | Amazon | |||
| 6 |
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Percy Mayfield | 02:39 | Amazon | |||
| 7 |
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Sylvester Mike | 02:38 | Amazon | |||
| 8 |
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Roy Milton | 02:17 | Amazon | |||
| 9 |
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Fred Jackson | 02:27 | Amazon | |||
| 10 |
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Smiling Smokey Lynn | 02:11 | Amazon | |||
| 11 |
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Jo Jo Adams | 02:57 | Amazon | |||
| 12 |
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Big John Greer | 02:39 | Amazon | |||
| 13 |
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Zuzu Bollin | 02:52 | Amazon | |||
| 14 |
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Big Al Sears | 02:46 | Amazon | |||
| 15 |
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Jack McVea | 02:51 | Amazon | |||
| 16 |
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Gene Phillips | 02:27 | Amazon | |||
| 17 |
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Duke Henderson | 02:37 | Amazon | |||
| 18 |
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Calvin Boze | 02:23 | Amazon | |||
| 19 |
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Morris Lane | 02:26 | Amazon | |||
| 20 |
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Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson | 02:58 | Amazon | |||
| 21 |
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Freddie Kohlman | 02:35 | Amazon | |||
| 22 |
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Felix Gross | 02:39 | Amazon | |||
| 23 |
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Paul Williams | 02:35 | Amazon | |||
| 24 |
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King Perry | 02:42 | Amazon | |||
| 25 |
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Johnny Hodges | 02:49 | Amazon | |||
| 26 |
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Sonny Parker | 02:56 | Amazon | |||
| 27 |
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Joe Turner | 02:36 | Amazon | |||
| 28 |
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Todd Rhodes | 02:42 | Amazon | |||
| 29 |
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Peppermint Harris | 02:03 | Amazon | |||
| 30 |
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James Von Streeter | 02:51 | Amazon |
Track Listing - Disc 4
| Sample | Title/Composer | Performer | Time | Stream | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Jimmy Rushing | 02:24 | Amazon | |||
| 2 |
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Stomp Gordon | 02:28 | Amazon | |||
| 3 |
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Crown Prince Waterford | 02:45 | Amazon | |||
| 4 |
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Grant "Mr. Blues" Jones | 02:27 | Amazon | |||
| 5 |
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Maxwell Davis | 02:36 | Amazon | |||
| 6 |
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Little Maxie | 02:37 | Amazon | |||
| 7 | Hal Singer | 02:57 | Amazon | ||||
| 8 |
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B.B. King | 02:34 | Amazon | |||
| 9 |
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James Von Streeter | 02:37 | Amazon | |||
| 10 |
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Bernie Hardison | 02:37 | Amazon | |||
| 11 |
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Tommy Douglas | 02:33 | Amazon | |||
| 12 |
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Tommy Ridgley | 02:33 | Amazon | |||
| 13 |
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Rudy Greene | 02:43 | Amazon | |||
| 14 |
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Charlie Singleton | 02:23 | Amazon | |||
| 15 |
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Lloyd Smith's Gut-Bucketeers | 02:52 | Amazon | |||
| 16 |
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J.T. Brown | 02:39 | Amazon | |||
| 17 |
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Little Richard | 02:18 | Amazon | |||
| 18 |
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Freddie Mitchell | 02:58 | Amazon | |||
| 19 |
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Tucker Coles | 02:23 | Amazon | |||
| 20 |
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Robert Tucker | 02:54 | Amazon | |||
| 21 |
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Earl Sumner Jackson | 02:17 | Amazon | |||
| 22 |
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Elmore Nixon | 02:26 | Amazon | |||
| 23 |
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Little Willie Jackson | 02:49 | Amazon | |||
| 24 |
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Herman Manzy | 02:27 | Amazon | |||
| 25 |
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Plas Johnson | 02:41 | Amazon | |||
| 26 |
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Hubert Robinson | 02:46 | Amazon | |||
| 27 |
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Jimmy Forrest | 03:00 | Amazon | |||
| 28 |
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Lester Williams | 02:18 | Amazon | |||
| 29 |
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Goree Carter | 02:17 | Amazon | |||
| 30 |
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Joe Houston | 02:27 | Amazon |